scholarly journals Digitization of Museum Collections

2021 ◽  
pp. 263-284
Author(s):  
Mohamed Aly Abdelfattah
Keyword(s):  
Museum Collections ◽  
Lessons Learnt ◽  
Museum Professionals

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina Antiquities Museum (BAAM) has been involved in many digitization-related projects. Part of them were external projects where the museum played a secondary part, while in others the BAAM team was a main player. Abdelfattah analyses some of these projects and discusses the lessons learnt from each of them. He also highlights the role of museum professionals in formulating clear objectives for digitization, and the subsequent strategies formulated to achieve them. Finally, the paper presents some of the digitization advantages, opportunities, difficulties, and challenges based on the BAAM experiences.

scholarly journals More Than Names: The role of updated taxonomy in palaeontology collections

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricardo Paredes
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Record ◽  
Marine Invertebrate ◽  
Research Community ◽  
Type Material ◽  
Museum Collections ◽  
Web Based ◽  
2D Imaging ◽  
Visual Impact ◽  
Fossil Data

The accuracy on taxonomic determinations of palaeontology collections may have significant consequences in estimations of organism diversity through time. This justifies the need of taxonomic standardization of palaeontological collections. The perception of palaeodiversity through Phanerozoic time has significantly improved since the Sepkoski showed the marine invertebrate taxonomic data in diversity graphs, organized in orders (Sepkoski 1978) and families (Sepkoski 1979, Sepkoski 1984). The visual impact of these graphs engaged palaeontologists into gathering quantitative macroevolution in order to better understand marine palaeodiversity. Alroy et al. (2008) presented a rebuilt diversity curve based on genus-level in a large sample record. These and other statistically sound and standardized datasets of fossil occurrences have combined sources as literature, databases, and museum collections data as a foundation. Integration of these datasets with the entire fossil record based on individual specimens in space and time would be the ideal approach to species-level taxonomy standards determinations. An example showing how this approach may be achieved is the use of initiatives such as the Web-based data facility Palaeontology Database (PdB) which includes a large amount of fossil record data from throughout the world. The major advantage of that is to gather institucional and also private palaeontological collections with taxonomy experts validation. The core of these datasets is the taxon, with the species as the expected most reliable unit. Taxonomy is therefore the discipline enrolled in the process with the taxonomist at the centre of the process. Updated taxonomy is crucial to create reliable datasets and a careful approach should prevent biased data due to under- or overestimation of diversity. Palaeontological museum collections are known to be one of the largest repositories of fossil data. Taxonomic standardization of palaeontology collections in the context of a museum should: Engage taxonomists in revising fossil clades of the museum material; Promote networking and museum researcher peers involved in similar collections activities; Avoid replication of errors in taxonomic determinations (e.g. exclusive use of Web-based databases sources of taxonomy); Use type material to compare with the collection specimens; Critically analyse previous taxonomic determinations on old labels and associated specimen information; Promote the accessibility of the collection to the research community; Emphasize digitisation of specimen catalogue records as well as 2D imaging of the specimens. Engage taxonomists in revising fossil clades of the museum material; Promote networking and museum researcher peers involved in similar collections activities; Avoid replication of errors in taxonomic determinations (e.g. exclusive use of Web-based databases sources of taxonomy); Use type material to compare with the collection specimens; Critically analyse previous taxonomic determinations on old labels and associated specimen information; Promote the accessibility of the collection to the research community; Emphasize digitisation of specimen catalogue records as well as 2D imaging of the specimens. These practices are valuable complements to current methodologies adopted to improve the taxonomy of collections, resulting in more reliable data which further enables museum-based research focusing on palaeodiversity estimations.

scholarly journals On the Development of Jewish Museums and Jewish Ethnography in Ukraine, 1917–1941

2019 ◽  
pp. 44-79
Author(s):  
Marina Shcherbakova
Keyword(s):  
Interwar Period ◽  
Museum Collections ◽  
Jewish Culture ◽  
Political Situation ◽  
Ethnographic Studies ◽  
National Movements ◽  
Central Representation ◽  
Initial Support ◽  
Insight Into

The article explores the development of the Jewish museums and Ethnographic Studies of Jewish culture in the Soviet Ukraine within the framework of the state ethnic policies and local scholarly and cultural initiatives. After 1917, the state’s gradually increased attention – as ambivalent as it was – to Jewish exhibitions can be seen in a number of projects conceived and in part realized in Kyev.The Mendele Moicher Sforim Museum of Jewish culture, opened in Odessa in 1927, was meant to become the central representation of the Soviet Jewish culture. However, despite the initial support of the Soviet administration,the change of the political situation in the early 1930s jeopardized the existence of the museum collections. Numerous displays of Judaica objects in local museums of Ukrainian towns provide insight into the role of the korenization (“giving roots”, indigenization) campaign and the legacy of the pre-revolutionary national movements. The article investigates the process of the museumization of Jewish culture in the interwar period as a confluence of factors of national identity, social construction, and relations between the center and the periphery.

The Multi-media Museum: The 1960s–70s

2019 ◽  
pp. 61-70
Author(s):  
Elisa Mandelli
Keyword(s):  
Communication Strategies ◽  
Visual Design ◽  
Technological Innovations ◽  
Emerging Trends ◽  
Museum Professionals ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Multi Media ◽  
The 1960S

This chapter discusses the spreading of film projections and other multi-media and interactive devices in museum galleries in the 1960s–70s, due to the advent of video and technological innovations that rendered these machines more easily available, as well as to the growing importance accorded to the visual design of exhibitions. The chapter also focuses on the curatorial debate about several key issues. It addresses the relationships between museums and their visitors, and the role of multi-media in shaping their interactions. The chapter analyses a seminar held in 1967 by Marshal McLuhan and Harley Parker. In this meeting with museum professionals, the famous communication theorist discussed emerging trends in the communication strategies of museums, which included the role of audio-visual and multi-media devices.

Understanding competition and service offer in museum marketing

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanja Komarac ◽  
Durdana Ozretic-Dosen ◽  
Vatroslav Skare
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Market ◽  
Marketing Management ◽  
Marketing Manager ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Museum Professionals ◽  
Museum Marketing ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Museum Experience

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the current role of competition as one of the neglected aspects of museum marketing management. It also aims to discover whether museum professionals consider museums to be market immune and to find out what they think about the role of competition in creating and managing their existing and new services. Design/methodology/approach The theoretical part of the paper is based on a review of the literature from the multidisciplinary field of arts and museum marketing management. The exploratory qualitative research included 17 museum professionals and was carried out in 17 museums in one EU emerging market country. Findings Museum professionals are not aware of the competition, or they tend to ignore its existence. They consider the preservation of objects (exhibits) to be equally or even more important than providing services. However, additional services become important. Although some museum professionals try to engage visitors in the active creation of museum experience, most are still conservative in such terms. Research limitations The primary research limitations are related to intentional, convenience sample and the perspective of one employee (marketing manager or museums’ director). Originality/value Research findings provide valuable insights for both marketing academics and professionals engaged in the museum marketing management field. The contribution of the paper is also contextual as it helps to bridge the gap existing in museum marketing management research in the context of the emerging markets.

scholarly journals The role of experts in postaccident recovery: lessons learnt from Chernobyl and Fukushima

2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 254-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.C. Gariel ◽  
F. Rollinger ◽  
T. Schneider
Keyword(s):  
Recovery Process ◽  
Nuclear Accident ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
Affected Area ◽  
Lessons Learnt ◽  
Informed Decisions

Following a nuclear accident, a major dilemma for affected people is whether to stay or leave the affected area, or, for those who have been evacuated, whether or not to return to the decontaminated zones. Populations who have to make such decisions have to consider many parameters, one of which is the radiological situation. Feedback from Chernobyl and Fukushima has demonstrated that involvement and empowerment of the affected population is a way to provide them with the necessary elements to make informed decisions and, if they decide to return to decontaminated areas, to minimise exposure by contributing to the development of a prudent attitude and vigilance towards exposure. However, involving stakeholders in postaccident management raises the question of the role of experts and public authorities in supporting the inhabitants who have to make decisions about their future. Based on experiences in Chernobyl and Fukushima, this paper will discuss various principles that have to be taken into account by experts and public authorities about their role and position when dealing with stakeholders in a postaccident recovery process.

scholarly journals Best Practices for the Conservation and Preservation of Herbaria

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Leora Bromberg
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Museum Collections ◽  
Special Collections ◽  
Unusual Form ◽  
Museum Professionals ◽  
Collection Practices ◽  
Human Exploration

This paper offers an in-depth report on the best practices for the conservation and preservation of herbaria within library and museum collections. A herbarium (singular) is a collection of dried and pressed plant specimens, typically mounted onto paper and accompanied by a certain degree of recorded information. These organic specimens tend to be housed in museums or special collections libraries, where their handling can be carefully monitored and/or restricted. Each herbarium is typically one-of-a-kind and may serve as a vital primary source on human exploration, taxonomy, natural history and even amateur collection practices. A closer look at the best practices for their conservation and preservation spotlights the herbarium as a fragile, valuable and perhaps an unexpected or unusual form of “recorded information” that librarians, archivists and museum professionals may encounter or even have some responsibility over at some point in their careers.

scholarly journals Impacts and intricacies of mass quarantine on Covid-19 and possible role of artificial intelligence (AI) in mitigation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samara Bin Salem ◽  
Jagadeesan Premanandh
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Early Warning ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Lessons Learnt ◽  
Global Threat ◽  
The Impact

Ongoing Covid-19 is a new global threat with a devastating impact on lives and economy especially in China, the origination spot of epidemic. The catastrophic nature of an epidemic depends on isolation and quarantine measures. The impact of mass quarantine in China in containing Covid -19 has been discussed. Repercussions of mass quarantine and its profound adverse concerns on healthy individuals and economy has been presented. Role of artificial intelligence in early warning alert and its impacts are discussed. In conclusion, the ability to recognize outbreaks and act is still challenging as each event is unique in its own way. In other words, the causative organisms are smarter than human and human made algorithms. Nevertheless, the expensive lessons learnt enable us to prepare ourselves to prevent such disasters which is an on-going battle.

The Role of Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS) in Post-Conflict Rehabilitation: Lessons from Liberia

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Kwaja
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Rehabilitation Program ◽  
West African ◽  
Violent Conflict ◽  
Economic Community ◽  
Center Stage ◽  
Post Conflict ◽  
Lessons Learnt ◽  
Violent Conflicts

In the aftermath of the violent conflict in Liberia, the issue of post- conflict rehabilitation took center stage, with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) deeply involved in an elaborate post-conflict rehabilitation program in the country. Through the use of content analysis, this paper explores the involvement of ECOWAS in post-conflict rehabilitation in Liberia in the context of the devastating consequences of violent conflicts that the country experienced. In specific terms, it highlights key lessons learnt from the ECOWAS intervention in Liberia, as part of its mandate for peace, security and stability in the region.

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